METRICS OF BEAUTY

The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 2:17). 

HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! (Romans 10:15).

The Bible specifically describes Abraham's wife, Sarah and Isaac's wife, Rebekah as being beautiful. Oddly enough, the same Hebrew word that describes Sarah and Rebekah as beautiful also is used to Describe David.  Sarah must have kept her good looks well into old age because there were a couple of kings that wanted her even when she was old.  While the above text does not say Esther was beautiful it certainly leaves us with the impression that Esther was way above average in looks and grace.  She was the total package, being both graceful and good-looking.

Though there are some facets of beauty that are cultural, like weight, length of neck, size of feet and body ornamentation, there are some factors that are recognized universally as being beautiful.  As early as 8 months of age babies gaze much longer at symmetrical faces than asymmetrical faces.  Clear skin is universally recognized as being essential to beauty.  Though the roundness of a woman may be valued differently in different cultures, it is universally recognized that a waist-to-hip ratio of .70 is a metric of physical beauty in a woman.  It appears that most of the women of Fox News fall into these physical metrics.

Debrahlee Lorenzana was fired from her position as a business banker for being distractingly attractive to her male colleagues (Psychology Today, 2-14).  Because of our highly sexualized culture, being an attractive woman has to be difficult in the work-place, but it also has its advantages.  A wise woman will, like Esther, use her beauty in such a way as to bring grace to the work-place.  She has to learn how to 'express confidence and competence, to speak with certainty and demonstrate an ability to listen and be present' (PT, Flora, 2014).

Beauty can become ugly if it represents a lot of difficulty.  The landscapes of America were not recognized as being beautiful until the railroads could easily carry passengers through the mountains. Prior to the railroads, mountains were obstacles that had to be conquered.  As well, a beautiful woman without discretion will not keep her beauty.  Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does," would also agree that beauty is as beauty does.

This is as true for men as it is for women, one can improve his/her looks a whole lot by cultivating the attitudes and actions that help and bless others.  A rather plain-looking person becomes very attractive when grace is shown in her/his life.

Our Father's Love,
Tom